A massive 181-kg alligator lounging on a road in Onslow County, North Carolina has captured the internet’s attention after law enforcement posted a hilarious update on Facebook. The incident, which happened on May 28, 2025, was anything but ordinary — and it came with a heavy dose of humor.
Meet ‘Pepe the Gator’ — The Viral Road Lounger
The enormous reptile, estimated to weigh between 350–400 pounds and measuring nearly 10 feet long, was spotted resting on Old 30 Road, casually ignoring traffic and chilling near the double yellow line. Deputies from Onslow County and officers from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission quickly responded to the scene.
Rather than issuing a dry statement, the Sheriff’s Office took a lighthearted approach to the situation — and it paid off.
The Hilarious Official Statement That Went Viral
In a now-viral Facebook post, the Sheriff’s Office shared a tongue-in-cheek press release, calling the alligator a “prehistoric perp.” The post read:
“On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, deputies in Onslow County and officers with NC Wildlife Resources Commission wrangled this prehistoric perp off the pavement today after he was caught loitering near the double yellow line on Old 30 Road. Witnesses say he was just chilling and snapping, clearly ignoring the ‘no loitering or lounging on roadways’ sign.”
To add to the fun, the Sheriff’s Office humorously filed mock charges against Pepe, including:
“Pepe the Gator, 350–400 lbs, and almost 10 feet in length, has been cited for Suspicion of Being a Dinosaur Without Proper Papers, Public Loitering with Intent to Sunbathe, and Obstructing Traffic. Deputies reported no injuries, unless you count his pride when the gator refused to be cuffed. We’re told the gator has been safely relocated — and no, he didn’t get to ride shotgun.”
The internet responded with thousands of likes, shares, and laughing reactions. Comments flooded in with jokes like “Free Pepe!” and “Only in North Carolina!”
